Content access from a communications network using a handheld computer system and method

ABSTRACT

A handheld computer including a wireless communications link with a wireless server is disclosed. The wireless communications link allows browsing of information provided through the wireless server which is coupled to a communications network. A user of the handheld computer may generate a request for content, for example, by selecting a link to content. The request is communicated to the wireless server which requests the content from the content source. When the content is received by the wireless server, a plug-in mechanism or other type of software program is used to convert the particular content type into a format easily communicated and used by the handheld computer. The handheld computer receives the formatted content, and using a compatible plug-in mechanism or software program, is able to display content using the handheld computer.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/839,066,entitled “Content Access From a Communications Network Using a HandheldComputer System and Method”, filed Apr. 20, 2001, to be issued as U.S.Pat. No. 7,747,781, and assigned to the assignee of the presentapplication. The subject matter in the above-identified co-pending andcommonly owned application is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present specification relates to a method and apparatus foraccessing content on a handheld computer. In particular, the content isprovided over a communications network, such as the internet, to awireless server which communicates wirelessly with the handheldcomputer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The internet includes a communications network linking a vast number ofcomputers with smaller computers, computer networks, and wirelessdevices. The computers coupled to these networks exchange informationusing various services, such as electronic mail, gopher, and the WorldWide Web (WWW). The World Wide Web allows a computer server (sometimesreferred to as a web server or a website) to send graphical web pageinformation to a remote client computer system. The remote clientcomputer system is configured to display the web page information in agraphical format.

Resources, such as individual computers or individual web pages on theWorld Wide Web may be uniquely identified by a uniform resource locator(URL). For a user to view a specific web page, a client computer systemspecifies the URL for that web page in a request, such as a hypertexttransfer protocol (HTTP) request. The request is forwarded through thecommunications network, to the web server that supports the particularweb page. The web server responds to the request by sending theparticular web page through the requesting client computer system. Whenthe requesting client computer system receives the particular web page,the particular web page is displayed on a video display using a browser.The browser is typically a special-purpose application program thataffects the requesting of web pages and the supplying of web pages.

The web pages themselves are typically defined using a hypertext mark-uplanguage (HTML). HTML simply provides a standard set of tags that definehow a web page is to be displayed. When a user indicates to the browserto display a web page, the browser sends a request to the servercomputer to transfer to the client computer system an HTML document thatdefines the web page. When the requested HTML document is received bythe client computer system, the browser displays the web page as definedby the HTML document. The HTML document contains various tags thatcontrol the displaying of text graphics, controls, and other features.The HTML document may further contain URLs of other web pages or ofother documents or other types of content, such as, but not limited to,audio and video content, available on that server computer system orother server computer systems. These URLs are often referred to aslinks. Each of these links may be selected by the HTML document user andan HTTP request is sent to the associated web server.

Although the origins of the worldwide web arose from the need for anexchange of scientific and engineering information between scientistsand engineers, the worldwide web has become especially conducive toconducting electronic commerce (e-commerce), searching for informationby individuals for both personal and professional use, and for managingand facilitating day-to-day activities by individuals in a personal andprofessional context, among others.

It has become increasingly desired that individuals be able to gainaccess to the resources and content available through the World Wide Webwhile using any of a variety of mobile devices, including, but notlimited to mobile computers, cellular telephones, personal digitalassistants and handheld computers. With increased demands being put onthese devices, users increasingly demand access to content availableover the World Wide Web that would conventionally be available to apersonal computer user as well, for example. Portable devices, such ashandheld computers typically do not have the communication bandwidthtypically associated with a personal computer. The wireless link overwhich the handheld computer communicates with the wireless servertypically has a relatively low bandwidth.

Accordingly, there is a need for software for both handheld computers(as well as mobile computers and cellular telephones) and servercomputers which enable content delivery and exchange over a wirelesscommunication link. There is also a need for a “plug-in” softwaremechanism for computer servers and handheld computers which facilitatescontent delivery to and from a handheld computer by particularformatting and/or compression. Further still, there is a need formethods for delivering content provided over a communications network,to a handheld computer.

The techniques herein below extend to those embodiments which fallwithin the scope of the appended claims, regardless of whether theyaccomplish one or more of the above mentioned needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary embodiment relates to a method of obtaining content to beaccessed on a handheld computer. The method includes sending a requestfor content by a server on a communications network. The method alsoincludes retrieving the content by the server. Further, the methodincludes converting the content by the server, to a format useable by ahandheld computer. Further still, the method includes sending thecontent to the handheld computer.

Another exemplary embodiment relates to a system configured for ahandheld computer to access content. The system includes a handheldcomputer. The system also includes a server in communication with thehandheld computer. Further, the system includes a content server incommunication with the server. Further still, the system includes aserver program running on one of the server and the content server andconfigured to format the content into a form for delivery to a handheldcomputer. Yet further still, the system includes a handheld programrunning on the handheld computer and configured to receive the formattedcontent and provide access to the content by a user using the handheldcomputer.

Further, another exemplary embodiment relates to a method of accessingcontent on a handheld computer. The method includes establishing acommunications link with a server coupled to a communications network.The method also includes running a browser program on the handheldcomputer. Further, the method includes receiving data configured to beviewed using the browser. Further still, the method includes requestingcontent from a location described by the data. Yet further still, themethod includes receiving the content in a format designed for thehandheld computer. Yet further still, the method includes converting thecontent to a format useable by an application on the handheld computer.

Further still, another exemplary embodiment relates to a method ofaccessing content on a handheld computer. The method includes receivinga request for content, in a third party format, by a server coupled to acommunications network. The method also includes sending the request forcontent to a server having the capability to convert third party formatcontent to a handheld format. Further, the method includes requestingthe content, by the server having the capability to convert third partyformat content to a handheld format, from a content source. Furtherstill, the method includes receiving the content by the server havingthe capability to convert third party format content to a handheldformat and converting the content to the handheld format.

Yet further still, another exemplary embodiment relates to a method ofaccessing information over a communications network by a handheldcomputer. The method includes operating a browser on a handheldcomputer. The method also includes requesting from a first server abrowser document over a wireless link. Further, the method includesrequesting from a second server by the first server a browser documentin a customized format. Further still, the method includes retrieving bythe first server from the second server a browser document in thecustomized format. Yet further still, the method includes retrievingover a wireless link the browser document in the customized format fromthe first server.

Yet still another exemplary embodiment relates to a system configuredfor a handheld computer to access content. The system includes ahandheld computer, a first server in communication with the handheldcomputer, a second server in communication with the first server, and athird server in communication with the first server and with the secondserver and the third server being a source for content requested by thehandheld computer. The system also includes a server program running onthe second server and the server program configured to format thecontent into a form for delivery to a handheld computer. Further, thesystem includes a handheld program running on the handheld computer andconfigured to receive the formatted content from the first server andprovide access to the content by a user using the handheld computer.

Yet still a further exemplary embodiment relates to a system configuredfor a handheld computer to access content. The system includes ahandheld computer and a wireless gateway. The system also includes afirst server in communication with the wireless gateway and a secondserver in communication with the first server. The system also includesa third server in communication with the first server and the secondserver and the third server being a source for content requested by thehandheld computer. Further, the system includes a server program runningon the second server and the server program configured to format thecontent into a form for delivery to a handheld computer through thewireless gateway. Further still, the system includes a handheld programrunning on the handheld computer and configured to receive the formattedcontent from the wireless gateway and provide access to the content by auser using the handheld computer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will become more fully understood from the followingdetailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communication network and a handheldcomputer connected wirelessly thereto;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram depicting steps of obtaining content by ahandheld computer;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram depicting alternative steps of obtainingcontent by a handheld computer;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram depicting another set of alternative steps ofobtaining content by a handheld computer;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram depicting yet another set of alternative stepsfor obtaining content by a handheld computer;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram depicting yet another set of alternative stepsof obtaining content by a handheld computer; and

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an alternative communication network and ahandheld computer connected wirelessly thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a communications system 100 is depicted.Communications system 100 includes the internet 110 or any other type ofcommunications system. In the exemplary embodiment depicted, internet110 is a widely distributed communications system in which a pluralityof server and client computers are coupled in communication with aplurality of other server and client computers distributed worldwide.For example, server computers may include such servers as a wirelessserver 120, a content source 130, a web portal 140, a third partycontent software provider server 150 and many other types of servercomputers having a variety of functions and resources. In the exemplaryembodiment depicted in FIG. 1, wireless server 120 services a pluralityof handheld computers, such as handheld computer 160. Handheld computer160 may be any of a variety of handheld computers, such as, but notlimited to personal digital assistants, palmhelds, palmtop computers,cellular telephones, wireless pagers, and the like. Handheld computer160 is configured to communicate wirelessly with wireless server 120 andtherefore gain access to resources over internet 110. For example, webbrowser 170 may be configured to access HTML web pages via wirelessserver 120 which communicates over internet 110.

During an exemplary usage of web browser 170, a user utilizing handheldcomputer 160 often wishes to download and view certain documentsavailable over internet 110 from such sources as content source 130.Accordingly, a user utilizing web browser 170 would “click on”, select,or request, access to the content by communicating a URL associated withthe content, to wireless server 120 which communicates over internet110. The URL directs the request to content source 130.

In an exemplary embodiment, the content source may be any of a varietyof document or content types, such as, but not limited to, MicrosoftWord (.doc) documents, Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) files, sound files such as.wav files, picture files such as .gif, or .jpg files, video files suchas .mpg files, or many other types of files and/or content.Conventionally, handheld computers 160 are not necessarily set up toview the plurality of content types which may be available over internet110, from sources such as content source 130 because of displaylimitations, bandwidth limitations, memory limitations, and otherlimitations associated with a handheld or portable device. Becausewireless link 175 may be a relatively low bandwidth data link, it may beadvantageous to communicate such content from wireless server 120 tohandheld computer 160 in a compressed format. Therefore, as wirelessserver 120 accesses content from content source 130 and receives thecontent therefrom, wireless server 120 is configured with a softwareprogram or software plug-in mechanism 180 which is configured to convertthe content received from content source 130 into a compressed formatand further into a format usable by handheld computer 160. Likewise,handheld computer 160 runs a software program or software plug-inmechanism which is also configured to either decompress the compressedcontent received from wireless server 180 or to directly read andutilize the content received from wireless server 180 in a format whichis viewable and usable on handheld computer 160. Plug-in mechanism 180along with plug-in mechanism 185 enables communication of content fromsources such as content source 130 over wireless interconnection 175such that the content is accessible and viewable by handheld computer160.

In another exemplary embodiment, handheld computer 160, using browser170, communicates a request for content over wireless link 175 towireless server 120. Wireless server 120 communicates the request to athird party content software provider 150. Third party content softwareprovider 150 is associated with the type of content requested bywireless server 120. Wireless server 120 communicates the URL for thecontent to third party content software provider 150. Third contentsoftware provider 150 uses the URL received from wireless server 120 toretrieve content from a content source such as content source 130. Thirdparty content software provider 150 includes formatting software 190which is used to format the content for communication to devices such ashandheld computer 160 over wireless links. Accordingly, third partycontent software provider 150 uses formatting software 190 to format thecontent retrieved from content source 130 and then communicates theformatted content to wireless server 120 over internet 110. Wirelessserver 120 then sends the formatted content over wireless links 175 tohandheld computer 160. Handheld computer 160 uses plug-in mechanism 185to read the formatted information from wireless server 120 and view suchinformation on the display. In an exemplary embodiment, third partycontent software provider 150 is the third party which writes softwarefor creating content, for example, third party content software providermay be a provider of software for creating .doc files, .jpg files, or.pdf files, for example. Accordingly, the third party content softwareprovider may be the best source for providing a plug-in mechanism 190for formatting such content for access by a handheld computer 160 over awireless link 175.

In another exemplary embodiment, the user of handheld computer 160 usingbrowser 170 via wireless link 175 may request web page information froma variety of sources on the internet such as web portal 140 or any of avariety of other websites. Conventionally, if web portal 140 receives arequest from handheld computer 160 the web page is delivered to wirelessserver 120 which communicates the HTML document over wireless link 175to handheld computer 160. Handheld computer 160 then views the HTMLdocument using browser 170. However, browser 170, having a limiteddisplay area, may have limited capabilities to easily read and accessthe web page. Accordingly, it is often desirable to have a web pagewhich is formatted in accordance with the display constraints ofhandheld computer 160 using browser 170. Therefore, when the user ofhandheld computer 160 requests a web page from web portal 140, the webpage identifies that the requesting computer is a handheld computerrunning a browser 170 and accordingly formats the HTML document for thedisplay constraints of handheld computer 160 before communicating suchHTML document to wireless server 120. Wireless server 120 receives theformatted HTML document and communicates the HTML document with orwithout compression over wireless link 175. If the HTML documentreceived by handheld computer 160 is in a compressed format, handheldcomputer 160 utilizes mechanism 185 for uncompressing the HTML documentand the document is viewable using browser 170. However, if the documentis not compressed, the user of handheld computer 160 simply views thedocument on handheld computer 160 using browser 170.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a flow diagram 200 depicting steps of obtainingcontent by a handheld computer, is depicted. In an exemplary embodiment,a handheld computer, such as handheld computer 160 obtains acommunications link, such as link 175, with a wireless server, such aswireless server 120 (step 210). Once the communications link withwireless server 120 is obtained, a request is made by a user of handheldcomputer 160 over wireless link 175 to wireless server 120 (step 220).Wireless server 120 retrieves content over internet 110 in accordancewith the request for content (step 230). The content is then receivedand converted by server 120 using a plug-in mechanism, such as mechanism180, into a format which is configured to be sent over wireless link 175(step 240). The converted content is then sent over wireless link 175 tohandheld computer 160 (step 250). The converted content is then accessedby handheld computer 160 using the plug-in mechanism 185 to convert theformatted content to a form displayable or usable by handheld computer160 (step 260).

Referring now to FIG. 3, a flow diagram 300 including alternative stepsof obtaining content by handheld computer 160 is depicted. In flowdiagram 300, a handheld computer 160 obtains a communication link withinternet 110 (step 310). Handheld computer 160 then retrieves a web pagefrom a web server over the internet (step 320). A user selects a link tocontent using a browser 170 running on handheld computer 160 (step 330).Content is sent to a server, such as wireless server 120 (step 340). Thecontent is converted to a handheld compatible form using a softwareapplication such as plug-in mechanism 180 (step 350). The convertedcontent is then sent to the handheld computer 160 (step 360). Finally,the content is viewed or used by a user utilizing handheld computer 160by converting or using the converted content with or without aspecialized plug-in mechanism 185 on handheld computer 160 (step 370).

In another exemplary embodiment, a flow diagram 400 is shown in FIG. 4depicting alternative steps of obtaining content by a handheld computer.Process 400 includes obtaining a communications link 175 with a wirelessserver 120 (step 410). A handheld computer 160 requests content from thewireless server 120 via communications link 175 (step 420). Wirelessserver 120 identifies the type of content requested (step 430). Therequest is sent to third party server 150 associated with the type ofcontent that has been requested (step 440). The third party server 150retrieves the content from a content source 130 (step 440). Theretrieved content is converted by third party server 150 to a handheldcompatible format (step 460). The handheld compatible format of thecontent is sent to wireless server 120 (step 470). Wireless server 170then sends the converted content to handheld computer 160 overcommunications link 175 (step 480). Handheld computer 480 then is ableto utilize the converted format either by directly using such format orby converting the format to a usable format through a plug-in mechanismsuch as plug-in mechanism 185. In a particular embodiment, convertedcontent is a compressed form such that it is easily transmitted over abandwidth limited communications link such as link 175.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, a process 500 is depicted in FIG. 5showing alternative steps of obtaining content by handheld computer 160.Handheld computer 160 contains a wireless communications link 175 with awireless server 120 (step 510). A user of handheld computer 160 requestscontent through handheld computer 160 from wireless server 120 (step520). Wireless server 120 retrieves content from a content source 130(step 530). The type of content is identified by wireless server 120(step 540)and sends the content to a third party server 150 to convertthe content to a handheld format (step 550). Wireless server 120receives the content in the handheld format from the third party server150 (step 560). The wireless server sends the content in the handheldformat over wireless link 175 to handheld computer 160 (step 570).

Referring now to FIG. 6, yet another process 600 is depicted in which arequest for an HTML document is made by handheld computer 160 (step610). Wireless server 120 receives the HTML request from handheld 160(step 620). The HTML is sent to the document source, such as web portal140 (step 630). Web portal 140 identifies the type of requesting source(step 640). Web portal 140 then formats the HTML document in a formatappropriate for the type of requesting source, such as handheld computer160 (step 650). The formatted HTML document is then sent to wirelessserver 120 (step 660). The formatted HTML document is then sent overwireless link 175 to handheld computer 160 for viewing on browser 170(step 670).

Referring now to FIG. 7, another exemplary embodiment of a communicationsystem 700 is depicted. Communication system 700 includes the internet710 or any other type of communication system. In the exemplaryembodiment depicted, internet 710 is a widely distributed communicationsystem in which the plurality of server and client computers are coupledin communication with a plurality of other server and client computersgeographically distributed. For example, server computers may includesuch servers as wireless server 720, a content source 730, a web portal740, a third party content software provider 750, an internet serviceprovider 755, and many other types of server computers having a varietyof functions and resources. In the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG.7, wireless server 720 is configured to service a plurality of handheldcomputers, such as handheld computer 760 that is in communication, overa wireless link 775, with a wireless gateway 776. Wireless gateway 776is configured with a communication connection 777 coupled to ISP 755which communicates with wireless server 720 over internet 710. Wirelessserver 720 provides reformatted content to wireless gateway 776 overinternet 710. For example, web browser 770 may be configured to accessHTML web pages via wireless server 720 which communicates with ISP 755over internet 710.

During an exemplary usage of web browser 770, a user utilizing handheldcomputer 760 may wish to download and view documents available overinternet 710 from such sources as content source 730. Accordingly, auser utilizing web browser 770 would select or request access to thecontent by communicating a URL associated with the content, to wirelessserver 720 by providing the URL over wireless link 775 to wirelessgateway 776 over link 777 to ISP 755 and over internet 710 to wirelessserver 720. Wireless server 720 directs the request to content source730.

Further, in an exemplary embodiment, wireless server 720 would receivethe document and may be configured with software or a software plug-inmechanism 780 which is configured to convert the content received fromthe content source 730 into a compressed format and further into aformat usable by handheld computer 760. The compressed and/or formattedcontent is communicated over internet 710 to ISP 755 which communicatesthe compressed document over link 777 to wireless gateway 776. Thecompressed document is then communicated over wireless link 775 tohandheld computer 760. Handheld computer 760 utilizes a software program785 to uncompress or to facilitate viewing of the document on browser770.

In another exemplary embodiment, a document request made by handheldcomputer 770 is communicated through wireless gateway 776 and ISP 755 towireless server 720. Wireless server 720 may determine the type ofdocument requested and send such request to a third party contentsoftware provider 750. Third party content software provider 750 thenretrieves the content requested from content source 730. Third partycontent software provider 750 utilizes a software mechanism 790 toformat the software into a handheld format or compress the document intoa format suitable for wireless transfer and then send the formattedand/or compressed document back to either wireless server 720 ordirectly to ISP 755. In the case that the compressed and/or formatteddocument is sent to wireless server 720, the document is relayed to ISP755. In either case, once ISP 755 receives the compressed and/orformatted document, the document is transmitted over link 777 towireless gateway 776 which transmits the document over wireless link 775to handheld 760.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, a user of handheld computer 760requests an HTML document over wireless link 775 through wirelessgateway 776 and ISP 755. The request may go directly to web portal 740.Web portal 740 is able to identify that the request is coming from ahandheld computer and therefore formats or provides a formatted HTML orHTML type document directly to ISP 755. ISP 755 then communicates theformatted HTML or HTML type document over wireless link 777 to wirelessgateway 776 and over wireless link 775 to handheld computer 760.

While the detailed drawings, specific examples and particularformulations given describe exemplary embodiments, they serve thepurpose of illustration only. The hardware and software configurationsshown and described may differ depending on the chosen performancecharacteristics and physical characteristics of the computing devices.For example, the type of computing device, communications networks, ordevices used may differ. The methods and systems shown and described arenot limited to the precise details and conditions disclosed.Furthermore, other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissionsmay be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of theexemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the inventionas expressed in the appended claims.

1. A handheld computer system to access content for a user, comprising:a handheld computer capable of transmitting a request for content andlacking the capability to access the content in an unformatted form; afirst server with formatting capability to format the content of therequest, the server being configured to send the formatted request to asource of the content; a second server in communication with the firstserver over a communication link, the second server being a source forthe content requested by the handheld computer; the first server furtherhaving formatting capability and configured to format the contentrequested into a form for delivery to the handheld computer; thehandheld computer configured to receive the requested formatted content,from the first server and to provide access to the content by the userof the handheld computer.